GET DAILY REPORT FREE
Sponsored by Cox Business Louisiana
As a child in Kerala, India, decent health care was never easily accessible for Idicula Mathew or his neighbors. This inspired the biomedical engineer from Georgia Tech and co-founder of Hera Health Solutions to analyze implantable drug delivery products as a means for helping patients who might live far away from their providers.
Implantable devices are state-of-the-art and effective means of delivering long-term therapeutic treatment, including cancer fighting drugs. But the devices are often painful and difficult to remove from patients’ bodies, sometimes resulting in heavy bruising, scarring and extra visits to the operating room, Matthew explains.
“It almost seemed obvious that there needs to be a more innovative solution for implantable drug delivery,” Matthew says. The result? Mathew and his team invented a device that is biodegradable.
“Our technology grew out of asking many ‘what if’ questions, and soon enough we ended up with an idea of a product that can hopefully revolutionize long-acting drug delivery,” says Matthew.
Winner of the Cox Business-sponsored Get Started Medical pitch contest this August at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Hera Health Solutions will now advance to Get Started Louisiana competition slated for Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Estuary at The Water Institute of the Gulf.
Entrepreneurs can submit their pitch applications now through Sunday, Oct. 15, at getstartedlouisiana.com. The finalists for the competition will be announced in late October.
Sponsored by Cox Business in partnership with PitchBR and Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week (BREW), five finalists—including Hera Health—will compete for a chance to win a $10,000 prize package.
Now in its fourth year, Get Started Louisiana offers entrepreneurs the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with potential investors, successful business leaders and other Get Started competitors and winners. Participants deliver their business idea as an elevator speech in front of a live audience and a panel of judges.
“For almost 20 years, Cox Business has been supporting area businesses with telecommunications products and service to fit their size and needs,” says Leigh King, vice president of Cox Business Louisiana. “Get Started Louisiana is another example of our commitment to Louisiana’s innovative spirit and the collaborative experiences that help our region remain competitive.”
Though there will be only one grand prize winner, all competitors will benefit from the pitch experience, says Louisiana Technology Park Executive Director Stephen Loy. “Get Started Louisiana provides a perfect opportunity for companies to gain exposure for their great ideas and products.”
Mathew agrees and encourages other entrepreneurs to apply to participate as a way of refining their products.For more information about Get Started Louisiana or to be a part of the live audience, please visit getstartedlouisiana.com.
